California Wildfires: Causes, Prevention, and Management

What measure did PG&E take to prevent wildfires in Northern California?

• Increased water supply

• Built firebreaks

• Preemptively shut off power

• Installed more fire hydrants

What is a primary cause of severe forest fires in Northern California?

• High population density

• Frequent lightning strikes

• Buildup of brush on the forest floor

• Lack of rainfall

What is the purpose of prescribed burning?

• To increase forest density

• To clear out dead plants and underbrush

• To plant new trees

• To create new habitats for wildlife

Why might prescribed burns not be suitable for Southern California?

• They require too much manpower

• They could worsen conditions near metropolitan areas

• They are ineffective in dry climates

• They are too expensive

Which home feature can help prevent embers from entering during a wildfire?

• Open eaves

• Closed eaves

• Single-pane windows

• Wooden roofs

What is one benefit of planting well-watered trees around homes?

• They block emergency exits

• They reduce property value

• They increase the risk of fire

• They act as ember catchers

What is a potential long-term solution to prevent power line-induced wildfires?

• Installing more power lines

• Using wooden poles

• Putting power lines underground

• Increasing power supply

How does population growth contribute to the increase in wildfires?

• It increases the amount of vegetation

• It leads to more rainfall

• More people means more potential for human-caused fires

• It reduces the number of firefighters available

What role does climate change play in California's wildfires?

• It causes more frequent earthquakes

• It leads to drier dry seasons

• It increases the number of fire stations

• It reduces the amount of brush

What has been the trend in Northern California summers since 1970?

• They have become cooler

• They have become shorter

• They have become 2.5 degrees warmer

• They have become wetter